Wild Love (Rose Hill, #1)(54)
“What?” He pushes off the wall and takes a step back.
“I didn’t think about you not knowing… that’s why Ryan had a bad day.”
Ford winces at the mere mention of his name and rakes both hands through his hair, only stopping when he’s gripping the back of his head, elbows still up in the air. His lips are puffy, and his eyes are tortured. “Jesus. I had no idea.”
“You kissed me anyway.” I lift a hand to my lips and dust a finger over them. I swear I can still feel him there.
“I did.”
“Are you sorry now?”
The silence between us is deafening. His jaw pops as his molars grind. And then, “No.”
But he doesn’t stay with me for long—he turns and starts walking away.
“Where are you going?”
“To apologize to Fuckboy,” he calls back over his shoulder.
“Why? I thought you weren’t sorry?”
He pauses, his hand pressed against the corner of the building, considering. His eyes slice back to mine, almost violently. My entire body tingles. “Let’s call it my condolences then, because any asshole dumb enough to blow it with you when they’ve got you free and clear is having a bad fucking day.”
“Are you going to come back after?”
Ugh. I hate asking that out loud. I sound desperate and so unlike myself.
Ford drops my gaze now, as if there’s something terribly interesting about his boots. “That’s the thing, Rosie. I’ve gone and made you my employee, and I know you need this job. There is nothing free and clear about us.”
Then his fingers rap against the vinyl and he’s gone.
Leaving me more confused about him than ever.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
FORD
I hear Willa before I see her. Heavy footsteps and a loud yawn precede her entry into the kitchen. My sister is not a morning person.
“Fuck, this place is really nice,” she says as she peers around the kitchen. I can’t help but feel a spark of pride. Before it was rough, a little run-down. Now it’s all windows opening out to the lake, wide floorboards, wood-beam ceilings, and industrial light fixtures.
“It looks like a total dump from outside,” she adds from behind her fist as she covers another yawn. “But that guest bed is to die for.”
I scoff and shake my head while pointing her toward a full pot of coffee. “It doesn’t look like a dump. I wanted to keep the reclaimed wood exterior.”
She waggles her eyebrows at me. “Bet that was more expensive than just re-siding it.”
All I give her back is an eye roll. It was more expensive. But those weather-worn vertical boards carried far too much character—far too many stories—to just tear down or cover up.
I like that the house is unassuming. I like that it feels like it belongs nestled in the wilderness of the Rockies.
“Can you leave me this place in your will? I love it. And we both know I’m going to live forever. I have too much energy to die.” She approaches the long kitchen island with a mischievous grin, sliding up to its black stone counter. “You, on the other hand…”
“Nice, Wils. But I’m not dying.” Though I feel like I might be after pulling an all-nighter.
She regards me over the rim of her coffee cup, taking a thoughtful sip. “No, but I’ll put money on West killing you with his bare hands if he finds out you were making out with his baby sister last night.”
Fuck. Did she see us?
I stare at Willa, willing my face to give nothing away. “Rosie is a friend and employee. Don’t go making up stories.”
“Oh yeah? Is pushing her up against a wall and shoving your tongue down her throat how you check your emails?
Or was there a really important quote from a subcontractor hidden in there?”
Double fuck. She saw us alright.
I wipe a tired hand over my face. “Sounds like I should charge admission for how long you watched.”
She laughs at that with a subdued shake of her head. “You can try, but I get a family discount.”
My hand stays gripped over my stubble as I stare back at my sister. “How does Cade put up with you?” As far as I’m concerned her husband should be nominated for sainthood.
She grins wider now. “He doesn’t. He just holds on for dear life and comes along for the ride.”
I can’t help but laugh as I prop my hands on the edge of the counter and drop my head. I drove myself crazy all night long.
Should I? Shouldn’t I? Could I? Why can’t I?
“How is Cade? The kids?” I don’t even look up at her as I say it. I can’t.
“They’re great. Life is great. I thought I was pissed at you for making me drag my ass all the way out here to rag on you before Mom and Dad could do it first. But honestly, this is just way more fun than I banked on. I love watching you be confused. It’s very satisfying for me as the chaotic child with zero sense of direction.”
My shoulders shake.
“You’ve never been more relatable.”
I push up, my eyes meeting my sister’s. “You’re a true comfort, Willa. Thank you for the kind words.”
“You don’t need kind words. You need a kick in the ass.”